Skilled chefs in Scotland

If you're a chef, working in different countries is great for your resumé. It can help you advance your career, improve your language skills and meet people with different attitudes to cuisine.

Scotland has a shortage of top-class, skilled chefs. What this means is that if you want to work in Scotland it will be easier to apply. In this article we’ve brought together information to help you find work.

How the Home Office classify 'skilled chef'

According to the Home Office website, the term 'Skilled' "…requires that the individual is earning at least £8.45 per hour after deductions for accommodation, meals, etc.”, the equivalent of  around USD$13.70 or €9.60.

According to the UK points-based immigration system, you also need to show funds of £800 or more in your bank account (called ‘maintenance’ by the Home Office) and a proven level of English language skills.

For complete details of how to apply under the ‘skilled worker category’, see the UK Border Agency website.

Finding work

Once you know what you are aiming to apply for, you can start searching the many websites where chef jobs are published. There are several specialist sites for catering, as well as more general jobsites, which advertise chef jobs. Here is a small selection:

• Chefs in Scotland is primarily a job searching website with a message board
• Work Circle is a more general job site which lets you search for jobs, upload your CV, set up job alerts
• Chefs on the Move is a site dedicated to cheffing in Scotland. You can upload your CV for employers to search
• The Caterer website is a UK-wider site for anyone who works in catering. It has a job search, CV upload, salary checker, employers A-Z and an advice section
• Chefsworld is a worldwide forum based website for chefs and catering employers. It has job adverts, news, job alerts, recipes and employer ratings

It's also worth considering joining professional networks like the one on Linked in for the Federation of Chefs in Scotland.

Organisations

It is essential to have some knowledge about the food industry and the organisations that have an impact on catering in Scotland. Organisations such as Springboard UK, can help you to find businesses and potential employers.

Scotland's Food and Drink is an industry-led organisation promoting Scottish producers and influencing policy. Their aim is to build Scotland’s reputation as ‘a land of food and drink’ around the world so they are important to know about.

The British Hospitality Association is a UK-wide members' organisation where you can also find out about employers.

HIT Scotland is a Scottish charity which promotes excellence in hospitality and catering, by providing bursaries and scholarships. They also provide a network of hospitality professionals and improve training in the industry.

Help and advice

People First have set up a useful guide called UKSP for people working in hospitality, leisure, tourism and travel. The website also has a CV builder for logging your career experience and building a good resumé and a career mapper for finding your ideal job.

Food hygiene standards

You need to know about food standards regulations and ideally have a certificate in food hygiene. Find out about the standards on the Food Agency website. There are short courses in the UK like the ones offered by the Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland if you don’t already have it.

Related links

Springboard UK

Scotland Food and Drink

Springboard UK